Home Health Care

Home health care is skilled, medical healthcare services that are provided by trained professionals in the patient's home. Home health care is for individuals who are experiencing a change in their health status and require intervention by professional nurses or therapists with goals to return to their prior level of functioning. Home health care is always performed under the direction of a physician.   

Home health care is not 24 hour care in the home; rather, it is short-term, intermittent care.  Upon admission to home health care services, a physician directed plan of care is developed by a Registered Nurse. This care plan will determine the frequency and duration of home visits by the necessary disciplines.

Home health care services are usually covered by Medicare, Medicare HMOs, Medicaid, commercial health insurance policies, the V.A. and Workman’s Compensation. In most cases, pre-approval is required.

Services provided may include:

• Skilled Nursing Services
  • Wound care
  • IV Therapy
  • Blood draws
  • Pain management
  • Disease management and health education
  • Medication assessment and teaching
  • Nursing assessment after surgery or a hospitalization
• Physical Therapy Services
  • Gait training and learning to use a walker, crutches, or cane
  • Providing exercises to increase and maintain the endurance and muscle strength of the patient
  • Teaching proper body mechanics
  • Teaching exercises to help the patient regain mobility and strength after orthopedic surgery
• Occupational Therapy Services
  • Instruction in use of adaptive equipment
  • Teaching the patient to increase their independence with daily living activities
  • Education on fall risk factors and the prevention of them
  • Assessment of home safety
• Speech Therapy Services
  • Patients, who have suffered strokes or closed head injuries can benefit from these services.
• Home Health Aide Services (in conjunction with one of the above services)
  • Assistance with personal care such as dressing, bathing, and trimming toenails
  • Therapeutic treatments such as catheter care and colostomy care

Home Health Care may be right for your loved one if:   

• She/he received a new diagnosis such as diabetes, COPD, heart failure, stroke, cancer or other.
• She/he has experienced hospitalization due to joint replacement or other surgery.
• She/he has frequent medication changes.
• She/he is experiencing uncontrolled pain, blood sugars, or shortness of breath.
• She/he has been diagnosed with a terminal condition.
• She/he is having sudden difficulty with Activities of Daily Living (bathing, dressing, walking, etc.)
• She/he is making frequent visits to the doctor.
• It is considerably taxing/exhausting for him/her to leave home.